Kevin Massie watched as quickly moving floodwaters approached his home foot by foot. The water rose as the Pigeon River inched its way into the streets of Clyde, North Carolina. “In this area, it’s common to have several floods a year,” said Massie. In the 60 years Massie lived in […]
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Bigger and better: Sylva Pride expands after parade denied
#8220;There is going to be a lot of music, a lot of fun and a lot of rainbows,” said Burgin Mackey, Sylva Pride President. Sylva Pride held their fourth annual pride celebration Sept. 13 through 15, despite not being able to hold their traditional parade. In April, Sylva’s Board of […]
The past, present and potential future of DEI in the UNC System
Sometimes staying neutral creates more anger than if you chose a side. All colleges in the University of North Carolina System were given a deadline to share their compliance plans to the new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policy created by the UNC Board of Governors on Sept. 1. […]
A fresh look at university planning and construction
From Vol. 90, Ed. 8 May 2, 2024 Western Carolina University, like most higher education institutions, is constantly changing. With new construction proposed, immense planning is required to delegate funds, resources and man hours to meet university goals. The university uses a living plan to determine how construction and […]
Sylva’s Denial of Pride Parade Permit Sparks Controversy
In a meeting on April 11, Sylva’s Board of Commissioners voted to deny Sylva Pride a parade permit for their 2024 pride celebration. “Sylva Pride is saddened by the recent denial of our parade permit by the Town of Sylva,” said Burgin Mackey, Sylva Pride president. “This decision […]
Opinion: A farewell to four years
It’s amazing how quickly four years can vanish. It seems like just yesterday I was crying in the bathroom after moving in freshman year. In that moment, all I could remember thinking to myself was “why am I crying?” Today, as I near my final days at WCU, after growing […]
Wagers, sportsbooks and chasing losses: Mobile sports betting on a college campus
On June 14, 2023, NC Governor Roy Cooper signed the legislation that legalized online sports betting across the state. After cutting through red tape, online sportsbooks officially went live in North Carolina on March 11, 2024. This comes just in time for a huge money maker in the college sports […]
In the weeds: EBCI pushes cannabis dispensary despite setbacks
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is set to open Great Smoky Cannabis Company April 20. The cannabis dispensary located within the Cherokee reservation will be the first to legally distribute marijuana in North Carolina. Last September EBCI approved a motion to legalize possession and use of marijuana for […]
UNC System president pushes to block YikYak from university networks
In his Feb. 29 president’s report, UNC System President Peter Hans announced his intention to block anonymous social media apps including Yik Yak, Fizz, Whisper and Sidechat from campus networks, citing concerns for the mental health of students. Hans claims the apps show reckless disregard for the mental health of […]
A biodiversity hotspot in North Carolina’s high country
Just 32 miles south of Western Carolina University and only minutes from downtown Highlands sits a unique and integral biological hotspot. The Highlands Biological Station (HBS) was founded in 1927 and has grown its educational and research missions for nearly a century. In 2018, HBS became a multi-campus center of […]